Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Sure, I'd love to help, tuiste" Merrill says eagerly, using the celestial, non gendered word for parent that she and Beth have started to, tentatively, use for Helene.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Thank you. I appreciate the help," replies Helene, intentionally using the more personal pronoun in a reflection of the care and consideration Merrill shows her.

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill's smile widens even more and she twists her head to nuzzle Helene's hand. Hands only, she reminds herself. Merrill has discovered that Helene is most comfortable with touch on their hands. Given how much Merrill craves touch contact with her loved ones, she's learned to compromise.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene releases the braid with their other hand, moving to stroke the girl's head. So considerate. I am glad I decided to join the family.

[Bethany]

Even as Merrill and Helene are working out the proper wording for their tea for four request, Bethany is heading for a part of Coalside that would make Carver rather upset for to be in. Thankfully, she has Silence with her, as well as a heavy oak club on her hip. Not that she's particularly skilled with it (until she enchants it with a spell) but it's a visual thing. Regardless, she soon makes her way to the address she'd gotten from Don for her old friend Brianne. 

[GamesMaster]

She has to make her way down to West Coalside, nearly to the walls -- or rather, nearly to the new extension of the city walls built to separate the Adrift from the rest of Coalside. Here, it seems, many vagrants with nowhere to turn congregate, making it a good spot to buy the vices common among those who have given up on housing and are waiting to die. 

There's little here her magic can cure. Disease is rarely unconquerable in cities; free healing and Remove Disease can be found on the east side of the district, in Preacher's Way. Instead, what's wasting these people away slowly is poison, plain and simple. 

Brianne is here, slumped against the wall to find some shade, eyes half-closed, a cloak slung over her body. Her head is nodding rhythmically, as though in time with music only she can hear. The tip of her tail pokes out from the cloak, twitching in the same rhythm, and her ear flicks away a fly as Beth approaches. 

[Bethany]

"Gods be," Bethany whispers, closing her eyes in pain. Did... I could have stopped this. If I hadn't drifted away from her... "Bri?" she calls out softly, pitching her voice low as to both avoid attention from anyone else and to avoid spooking her.

[GamesMaster]

Bri's ear twitches again; one eye opens lazily, revealing bloodshot whites, dilated pupils. "Beth," she purrs, her eyelid drooping shut. There's a rattle in her breath, one Beth's healer training doesn't like the sound of. Sounds like she might have a deep cough she's not bothered to get fixed.

[Bethany]

A deep breath. "Hey Bri. Mind if I heal you?" she asks as evenly as she can. "Not liking that cough."

[GamesMaster]

A bubble of laughter bursts forth from her, followed by a hacking cough. "Sure, cutie. You can do anything you like." Her tail flicks once more, and she adds, "You got coin?"

[Bethany]

Bethany blinks a few times, hand almost to Bri. "...are you... charging me to heal you?" she asks with more confusion than offense.

[GamesMaster]

"Hmm?" she asks, distracted, her head tilting slightly. "Hey, now that you mention it, I should, shouldn't I?" She sounds distracted, her head still nodding in time to unheard music. 

[Bethany]

"....anyway," Bethany says, completing the movement. A moment later and Brianne has had a basic healing spell chaser with a disease removal spell main. "You hungry? I have some meat pies if you're interested? My treat."

[GamesMaster]

"Mmm. Sounds nice. After the band's done," she purrs. "'srude to interrupt."

[Bethany]

Band? What in Astea's name is she talking about? "...what band, Bri?"